Multiple-spindle index-center.



E. P. MILLER. MULTIPLE SPINDLE INDEX CENTER.

APYLIOATIOH TILED JUKE 11, 1907.

Patented Jan. 26, 1909.

Mil [5N TOR HlTNESS/JS and ImprovedLaboravin Multiple-dpim dle Index-Center, of which t e following is a specification.

My invention relates 'to'index centers as ordinarily used in connection with milling machines, and more particularly to-a device embodyin a plurality of centers adapted to clamp a purality of pieces of work of the same or varying lengths, and the object thereofis to provide such a construction, to gather with means whereby the plurality of gieces of work may be simultaneously inexed;

Further objects and advantages of my invention will ap at in the course of the following description in which reference is made to the accompanying drawin forming a part of this. specification, in w iich like numorals are used to designate like parts throughout the several figures, and in which,

Figure I is a perspective view of my improved device in its operativdposition upon a milling machine. Fig. 2 is a orizontal sectional view throu h the head stock adjacent one end thereof, roken away and showing the mechanism therein in plan. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through one end of the indexing spindles, and through the equalizing mechanism, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken through a portion of the head stock and through one of the indexing spindles, and illustrating the connection of the indexing screw therewith.

In the practical embodiment of my invention, I provide a frame comprising spaced head and tail stocks 2 and 3 respectively, mounted adjacent the forward and rear ends respectively of a bed late 4, so termed by reason of its ada tabihty to be secured upon the bed plate a, a milling machine b, having a cutter shaft 0, projecting transversely above said body plate 4 between said head and tail stocks 2 and 3. The head stock 3 is provided with a horizontal short series of stationary centers 5, while the head stock 2 is provided with a series of horizontal-openings adapted for the reception therethrough of a luralit of indexing spindles 6, each of, 55 whic is in a inement-with one of said centers 5 of the tail stock 3 It will thus be under- Efll" g- 1 5 intuit pr mea s-t;-steamers;

Slpecificatioia otL'et tera Paiient.

retested ran. eazmoe.

mm. Serial Ko.378,449

" "and that the as desired to h mange clamped between the end of one oithain dexing spindles 6 and, itsv,corres ipndingly alined center 5, thus allowing for t tion upon as many piecesof work as there are spindles 6, a cutter for each .piece o f Work bein carried upon the cutter shaft 42,, of the lingmachine b. At theirloutercnds, the indexing spindles (iare connectedbetween pairs by a series of equalizingleversfl, 8, and '9, said equalizing levers comprising channel bars into which the reduced-ends 1O oirthe saidspindles 6 project and, are provided therein with nuts 11, threadedly engaging thereon to prevent the withdrawal of the same.

The rcducedends 10, of. the spindles 6, provideshoulders at their juncture with said spindles which shoulders are provided with circular boring collars 12, surrounding said reduced ends 10, and abut similar collars 1.3 provided with a concave surface for contact with a substantially enlarged convex surface of the said equalizing levers, as shown in Fig. 3, said collars 12 and 13 being provided with semicircular grooves in their abutting faces adapted for the reception of anti-friction balls 14. Thus by the engagement of the concave and convex surfaces as just de scribed, the spindles 6 are permitted fight 'angular movement with relation to the equalizing lovers 7, 8, and 9, the nuts 11 of the reduced ends 10 of said spindles being loose enough to ermit of such slight angular movement, and being circular to allow of the rotation of said spindles. Mounted adjacent and parallel to said equalizing levers 7, 8, and 9, and of a length equal to the combined length thereof, is an equalizing bar 15 upon the opposite side of which an adjusting screw bar 16, threadedly engaging through a bracket 17, mounted upon the forward end of the bed late 4, projects centrall thereagainst, and is provided with a circu ar handle 18 upon its outer end by which the same may be rotated toward and away from said equalizing bar 15. The bar 15 is connected to the equalizing levers 7, 8 and E) by a pair of L--shapecl links 19 and 20, 0th of which are pivotally secured by bolts 21 at their point of angle, to said equalizing bar 15 at points in alinement between the equalizing levers 7, 8, and 9 respectively. The inner extremities of said connecting links 19 and 20 are pivotally secured together and to the central equalizing lever 8, by a bolt 22, at a point thereon in alinement between its pair of spindles 6, while the outer end of the connecting link 19 is pivotally secured by a bolt 23 to the equalizing lever 7,*at a oint thereon in alinement between its pair 0 spindles 6, and the outer end of the connecting link 20 is pivotally connected by a bolt 24 to the equalizing lever 9 at a oint thereon in alinement between its 'pair 0 spindles 6.

From the foregoing it will be seen that should any of the pieces of material to be elamcped'between the inner ends of the spindle 6 an the centers 5, be shorter or longer than the others, the inequality will be taken up by the equalizing bar 15,, equalizing levers 7, 8, and 9 and through'connecting links 19 and 20, when the adjusting screw bar 16 is rotated inwardlyagainst the equalizing bar 15 to force the said spindle 6 longitudinally and toward the centers 5.

In order that the spindles 6 ma be simul taneously indexed without inte e with the longitudinal movement thereof, provide said spindles with peripheral longitudinally extending teeth 25, w ich may extend the entire len th thereof, or only partially the length thereo as shown in Fig. 2.

I further provide the headstock 2 with an o eningextend' therethrough transverse y of the said spindles 6, and mount therein a worm shaft 26 engaging with its spiral teeth, the teeth 25' of the said spindles 6, said worm shaft being arranged at such an angle thereto as to cause the rotation of said spindles upon its own rotation, while allowing said spindles to move longitudinally and independently thereof. Thus it will be seen that after egual or unequal longitudinal movement 0 the spindle 6, the same may be rota tedv to index the work by means of the Worm shaft 26, constituting the index bar and provided with a handle 27 at one end thereof by which the same may be operated.

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

In a multiple s indle index center, the combination of a urality of centers, a plurality of longitudinally movable indexing spindles provided with circumferential teeth extending lon 'tudinally thereof, and an indexing screw or engagement with said circumferential teeth and mounted at such an angle to said spindles as to allow of the longitudinal movement thereof, substantially as described.

ERNEST P. MILLER.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS K. OnowNme'smnLD. GEORGE PIERCE. 

